Trap-net.



R. M. FRANKLIN.

TRAP NET.

APPLICATIDN FILED APRIL 1914.

Patented June 22, 1915.

llnqmnr held upward while the other is acted upon.

ROBERT M. FRANKLIN', OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

TRAP-NET.

intense.

i Specification of Letters Patent. y Pataentedl Juin@ 22, 1915.

Application led April 17, 1914. Serial No. 832,639.

To all whom, 1' t may concern:

Be it known that l, ROBERT M. FRANKLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trap-Nets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a. full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in net traps and an object of the invention is tol provide a trap which can be held open at any depth or when resting upon bottom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trap so constructed that the means for lifting the trap shall automatically close the trap.

l A still further object of the invention is to vprovide a trap formed of substantially two members, one of which is buoyant and by gravity and depends from the buoyant member, thereby keeping the members spaced from each other to admit game.

lVith these and other objects in view, the

' invention consists in the novel arrangement,

construction, and combination of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

` ln the accompanying drawings wherein `is to provideA a trap formed of two or more sections which are movable with respect to each other as by having two frames loosely hinged together on one side, while the opposite sides lare spaced by means of hangers which pass through eyes formed in the upper frame and are connected withjthe draft line. It will be desirable to have a iioat connected to the upper section for buoying the same while the lower section is heavy enough to be pulled down by gravity when in the water.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the invention comprises two sections 1 and 2 which comprise frames upon which is mounted the netting 5 and 6 respectively.l

The side bars 3 of each of the frames have clips 7 secured thereto, as shown in detail in Fig. 3, each clip being held by means of a rivet 8 which passes through an eye 9 formed at the end of the bar. The end bars l pass through the bends of said clips and at- `and securing. the saine in any suitable manner to the float. Preferably the float is not large enough to raise the entire upper. net to the surface of the water, as the constant motion due to wavev action would frighten the fish. The bottom section is made heavier y than the top section.A

By referring particularly to Fig. it will be seen that the a-djacentrear eyes 11V are connected'by means of hinges, herein shown as loops 1l which maybe made of any inaterial, wire being shown in the drawing,`

althoughv any approved form of hinge may be used for connecting the members Which will permit of loose movement' of one withv respect to the other. These hinges are formed upon one side only of the trap.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, it will be seen that the side of the lower section 2 opposite the hinged side has each of the eyes 11 thereof connected loosely withthe lower end vof a hanger 15, which passes thence through the corresponding eye of the.upper frame and is secured to a'stop 16. The steps 16 are connected by means of a bail 17 which may be connected to any convenient form the draft cord 19.

lVhen the device is lowered into the Water and the {ioat 12 is holding the trap sections separated, the trap `will be open as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. As soon as an indication is given that game has been trapped, the draft line 19 will be pulled upwardly which will .line 1 9 it'will assume a' position atright .result Ain pulling the lower section of the trap upwardlyl toward the upper section until the trap is closed as shown in full Asaine closed. VThe hangers may be wire,

er if preferred they may be cord 'or rope for it is to be understood that when the trap is pulled upwardlyjthrough the water by the angles to that shown in .Fig 2 in which case, itwrll be desirable to have the hanger 15 v, flexible enough to line itself with the draft 1.-. A trap for fish sections loosely connected together, one of said sections being held downwardly by line and not be so rigid as toretain permanently'- the position it has with respect to the frame as shown in Fig. 2.

I claim: l

and the like comprising gravity, the other of said sections .being buoyed upwardly to leavea space between the sections, and means for drawing the two sections together.

2 A trap f or fish and the like, comprising a lower sect-ionheavier than water, a buoyant upper section loosely 'connected at one edge' therewith,. means for regulating the width of the opening between the other vedges 'ofthe sections and means for drawing the sections together in hoisting the ,trap

out of the water.

3. A- trap for fish and the like comprising a lower section heldin lowered position by gravity, an upper section loosely hinged thereto, buoyant means secured to the upper the frame, eyelets'formed inthe frame, a l

'lower section hingedly connected' thereto and section adapted Ato hold the upper section -spaced fromv the lower section, and means for drawing the two sections together.

4. A trap for'fish and the like comprising an upper frame provided with eyelets, float- -ing means carried by the upper frame, a

lower frame acted upon by gravity to re-"` main in lowered position normally, and

means extending through the eyeletsand se-4 cured .to-the lower frame adapted to close the sections together when said means are spaced under tensional strain.r ,e e u 5. A trap for Ash and the like comprising 'an upper frame, buoyant means carriedby held normallyin lowered position by gravity` andmeans extending above the upper section through the eyeletsand secured to the lower section, said sections adapted to bey lifting line connected with the hinged sides of the frames, a draft line, anda bail connected with theflower end of the draft line and having its a'rins passing through the I eyes of the upper frame at the other side of the trap and connected with the eyes of the lower frame., v

7. The herein described trap for fish and vthe like comprising upper and lower frames having eyes at their corners, hinges connect` ing the corresponding side bars at one side of the trap, netting in each frame, a buoyant element carried by the. upper netting, the lower frame and netting being heavier than water, a lifting line connected with the hinged sides of the frames, hangers connectedwith the eyes of the lower frame at the other side of the trap and passing through the eyes in the frame above, stops on these hangers above the last-named eyes, a draft line, and a baily connected at its bend with said line and at its extremities with the upper ends of the hangers, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a trap for fish and the like, two frames whereof each comprises a pair of side bars having eyes at their extremities, a pair of end bars passing said eyes and themselves having eyes at their extremities, ai clip at each corner of the frame embracing the end bar adjacent its eye and lapping the eye of the side bar, the clip-rivet passing through the last-named eye,

netting within the frame, and a buoyant element within the netting of the vupper frame; combined with flexible connections between the eyes at the extreinities of two corresponding corners of the frame, and cords passing through the eyes at the remaining corners of the upper frame and connected with the eyes at the two iemaining corners of the lower frame, for the purpose set forth.

In testimonyl whereof I aii'x my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT M. FRANKLIN.

Witnesses:

C. HARPER ANDERSON, C. H. JONES. 

